Oakland University CIO recognized as one of nation’s top ‘technology leaders’

Oakland University CIO recognized as one of nation’s top ‘technology leaders’

Theresa Rowe, chief information officer for Oakland University, is among 100 leaders from technology and business sectors who are being honored with the 2017 Premier 100 Technology Leader Award by Computerworld.

Theresa Rowe, chief information officer for Oakland University, has been named a 2017 Premier 100 Technology Leader by Computerworld, which is published by IDG Enterprise, a subsidiary of International Data Group (IDG), the world’s leading media, events and research company.

"The Premier 100 awards program highlights the exceptional work of an elite group of IT executives who are leading their organizations through times of unprecedented change,” said Scot Finnie, editor in chief of Computerworld. “They are using technology to drive high-stakes business projects and create dynamic growth in their organizations.”

Rowe is among 100 leaders from technology and business sectors who are being honored with the award, which was created in 2000 to spotlight individuals who have had a positive impact on their organizations through technology.

"These 100 men and women are not only strategic business thinkers, but also team leaders who recognize the importance of recruiting and retaining the brightest talent to enable digital transformation and harness the opportunities of cloud, big data, mobile and social,” Finnie said. “We're pleased to recognize their leadership and honor their achievements.”

Rowe has been at Oakland University since 1990, where she has served as a senior systems analyst, the manager of Student Information Systems, and director of Information Systems before stepping into her current role as the university’s chief information officer in 2002.

“Successful leadership of our IT organization is very important to me, especially as we contribute to university strategic goals,” she said. “I believe this is an award for our entire department. It is recognition of great teamwork that leads to the achievement of strategic objectives.”

Rowe will be recognized with the other honorees during the AGENDA17 Conference, which will take place March 20-22 at the Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

The conference, which is expected to be attended by more than 300 influential business and senior IT executives, will feature a stellar lineup of keynotes, case studies and panel discussions featuring honoree organizations talking about their digital accomplishments and innovative use cases for artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, and more.

“We are excited to recognize and bring together such a dynamic group of technology leaders at AGENDA17,” said Adam Dennison, senior vice president and general manager, IDG Events. “Their stories will no doubt spark ideas in future winners and help elevate the technology industry overall.”